Workout Trend We Love: Overnight Relay Runs

Move over, mud run: There's a new kind of race in town. And forget solitary marathons of the past--we're talking about teamwork here. For your next big adventure, pound the pavement and enjoy the outdoors with this new, kick-butt trend in the racing world.

Overnight relays are super-long (like, 200-mile-long) road races that are completed in teams over the course of two or three days. The race legs vary by mileage, scenery, and time of day, and teams decide together who does what; you could do a 5-mile run at 2 a.m. followed by an 8-miler at noon the next day. In between legs, you ride along the course in a van with your teammates, trying to catch some shuteye and cheer on the runners as you go.

The camaraderie is definitely one of the race’s selling points, says Mara Betsch, 27, of Brooklyn, who did the Reach to Beach relay in New Hampshire in 2009. “Some of the guys that organized it recorded a theme song for us. They would drive by me when I ran and play it to keep me energized and on pace.”

Wanna jump in? Check out these top tips from overnight relay runners.

1. Run twice a day. “A great way to train for one of these relays is to get your legs used to running more than once in 24 hours. You will probably have to run three legs, which will be at least seven hours apart. Running on fatigued legs gets them prepared to run the relay race. I did this a few times before Ragnar, and I had no problem running my second leg of the race.” — Jen Masa, 27, participant in Ragnar Relay Adirondacks 2012

2. Schedule a long run each week. “These races are about endurance. You may not be on a competitive team, but you’ll need stamina to make it through three tough runs. The training should be like a half-marathon training program. Aim to get 8-12 miles in once a week, as well as a day of hills and a day of two-a-days. If you’re a beginner, ask whoever is assigning the legs for some of the shorter distances.” — Mara Betsch, 27, participant in Reach the Beach New Hampshire 2009

3. Study the course map. “You want to know where you are going during your race legs, especially at night! Signs can get blown over, people can steal them — you don’t want to get stranded in the mountains with no cell reception (the last half of our Ragnar had ZERO cell service — at least on my provider). So I didn’t have any access to an online map either. I had printed out the directions of my first leg, put it in a ziplock bag and carried it with me in case I didn’t know where to go. Runners will also be sparse — the fast people ahead of me were out of sight quickly, so I was running alone most of the time.” — Jen Masa

4. Know what to pack. “Take along lots of hoodies and sweatpants. Even if it’s warm where you are, many of these races are held in the mountains, when the temperatures drop at night. Wet wipes, mini deodorants, and anything that will keep you smelling fresh are also a plus. You’re not always going to have the opportunity to shower after you run; in my case, I had to try to sleep after my longest run. And don’t forget your camera: Some of the views you’ll see are amazing. You’ll want to capture them, along with all of the antics of your sleep-deprived team.” — Mara Betsch